Pontiac council accepts litigation recommendation in closed session for Washington v. City of Pontiac

Pontiac City Council met in closed session on Nov. 18 under MCL 15.268(e) and (h) to review pending litigation and privileged legal advice. The closed session concerned Washington v. City of Pontiac, Oakland County Circuit Court case number 25-215020-CZ, and included attorney-client privileged discussion with outside counsel from Clark Hill Law Firm.

After reconvening in open session, the council suspended the rules, moved a resolution accepting litigation counsel’s recommendation to resolve the case, and adopted the resolution by unanimous roll call.

The administration read the resolution on the record. Mayor and counsel framed the closed-session purpose as authorized by state open-meetings exemptions for pending litigation and for attorney-client privileged legal opinions. The council’s public action was procedural: it voted to accept the recommendation to resolve the pending litigation; the Nov. 18 public record contains no settlement amounts or confidential details.

“The resolution accepts the recommendation of litigation counsel in the matter of Washington v. City of Pontiac…to resolve the matter,” the president read during the meeting’s return to open session. Council voted to adopt the resolution; the roll call in open session recorded six yays and no nays.

Because the council’s discussion about strategy and legal opinion took place in closed session, the transcript contains no further public details about terms, releases, or amounts. City officials said that when they finish required procedural steps they will announce what is permissible under applicable rules and confidentiality agreements.